Electrical control system



July 14, 1931. J. L. REYNOLDS ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ttornev m O o\ O O llll II M m\ w M n M M& u m m .\l\

July 14, 1931.

J. L. REYNOLDS ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney novel form of moving Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN LOUIS REYNOLDS, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'I'O ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Application 111m April 1, 1927. Serial No. 180,327.

This invention relates to control systems, and with particularity to methods and means for controlling the proper timing of sequential operations in combined sound and pic-- ture reproducing systems.

An object of the invention relates to asynchronized sound and picture reproducing system wherein a moving picture film serves as a means for controlling either automatilo cally or through the intermediary of an attendant, the various switching operations which are incidentto systems of this character.

A feature of the invention pertains to a picture film which is so prepared as to bear characteristics which may be availed of to effect certain mechanical operations, these characteristics being distinct from the picture portion of the film 2o proper. These characteristics may appear in the form of anarrowing or widening of the film at the desired points or as variations in the light transmission qualities of the film.

Another feature of the invention pertains 2:, to the combination of means including a light-sensitive element for enabling a moving picture film to act as its own cue-sheet without the employment of mechanically acting circuit-breaking elements in close an proximity to the film.

A still further feature is concerned with the combination of a self-cued moving picture film and a step-by-step switch for automatically controlling sequential operations.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent after a consideration of the descriptions given hereinafter and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a moving picture film prepared according to the invention with a light sensitive device or inertialess relay and associated signaling apparatus.-

Fig. 2' shows a modification of the cir- 4 cuits and apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1

may be of standard width, and provided with the sprocket holes 3 on either side at a distance fro-n the edge of the film. The blank portion of the film between the feedholes and the edge is employed to carry the cue marks 4, 5, 6, etc. These-marks may consist of opaque strips of any suitable opaque material fastened at the proper points along the edge of the film, or they may consist of opaque portions of the film itself. These opaque strips are disposed on the film at .such points as correspond to the instants at which certain sequential switching opera.- tions are to be performed. 7 For the purpose of guiding the film and exposing only the edge thereof to the lamp 9, there is provided a channel plate 7 having a small opening 8 therein which registers with the marks 4, 5, etc. Light from the lamp 9 is focussed by means of an appropriate optical system representedby lens 10, upon opening 8 and upon the edge of the film. This light after passing through the film is focussed by the lens 11 upon the cathode 14 of photoelectric cell 12 thus reducing the negative potential on the grid 15 of the space discharge am lifier A, which negative potential may be a justed by means of the polarizing battery 16. Current thus flows in the plate circuit of the amplifier sufficiently to operate relay 17 which remains operated so long as cell 12 is illuminated from sourced).

When an opaque portion of the film edge aperture 8 the cell 12 is again illuminated and relay17 re-operates, opening the circuit of device 24. The film advances and presents other opaque portions such as 5, to cut off the light from cell 12 and relay 17 is again released to re-operate the signal device 24 indicating to the attendant that another operation is re uired.

Referring to ig. 2 there is shown a modification of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1. In this figure the circuit'for controlling the signal device or devices is closed mechanically by the film itself. For this purpose the film 1 is notched at the points corresponding to the opaque portions 4, 5, 6, etc. of Fig. 1. Suitably mounted on the right hand edge of the guiding channel plate 6, is the spring roller 31, which normally bears against the edge of film 1. Assuming the film to be moving in the direction indicated by the arrow, when a notch appears, the spring roller 31 moves to the left and closes a circuit through the contacts 38 and the winding of relay 33 which thereupon operates and at its contacts 36 completes the circuit for the signal device 37 which in this instance may take the form of a buzzer or hell, for the purpose of warning the attendant that a certain operation is in order.' Stepping magnet 41 of switch S receives an impulse in parallel with relay 33 and attracts and releases its armature 42 to advance brush 43 from normal contact N to contact 44. It will be noted that the normal position of the switch Sis with the brush 43 engaging contact N or any of the contacts N N When brush 43 moves to contact 44 a circuit is closed from the positive pole of battery 40, winding of relay 48, contact 44, brush 43, segment 49 to the negative pole of the battery. Relay 48 thus remains operated so long as brush 43 is in contact with terminal 44, and at its right-hand contact closes the circuit of the white lamp W which is a characteristic signal to the attendant that a certain sequential switching operation is required. 7

When brush 43 is advanced to engage contact'45, due to the appearance of another notch before roller 31, relay 48 releases and relay 50 operates over an obvious circuit, to close the circuit of the red lamp R- which serves asa characteristic signal to the attendant that another operation is inorder. The

film 1 continues to advance until the next notch engages the roller 31 whereupon the brush 43 is advanced to contact 53 to close the circuit for relay 51 and green lamp G which may serve as another characteristic Warning to the attendant, for example that there are two minutes to go before the next operation is required- At the end of this warning period another notch engages roller 31 and advances brush 43 to contact 54 whereupon relay 52 operates and lights blue lamp B asan indication to the attendant that another operation in the sequence is to beperformed.

Referring to Fig. 4 a description will now be given of the manner of employing the invention in one form of synchronized sound and picture projecting system whereby the switching operations are automatically performed. M and M1 represent, schematically, motors of any suitable type for driving the associated picture projecting machines P and P1 respectively as well as the associated phonograph turntables Tand T1. It will be assumed that the first portion of the program is carried by the disc 55, the sound record in which is to be reproduced in synchronism with the picture projected from the machine P, with the reproducing stylus 56 in contact with disc 55, and brush 6 0' of control switch S resting on the upper normal contact N. To start, the operator manipulates key61 momentarily to energize and de-energize the stepping magnet 62 which attracts and retracts its armature 63 to step brush 60 on to contact 64. A circuit is thereupon completed from the negative pole of battery 65, left winding of relay 71, contact 64, brush 60, segment 67 to the positive poleof battery. Relay 71 at its outer right-hand contact closes the circuit for motor M which drives both the phonograph turn table T and the moving picture projector P. Relay 71 upon e'nergization looks through its right-hand winding and inner right-hand armature and the back contact ofrelay 88 to the positive pole of battery. This locking circuit is maintained as long as relay 88 remains normal. The picture projector P and the associated phonograph reproducer are now in operation. It should be noted that 73 represents schematically that portion of the projector which contains apparatus similar to that represented in Fig. 1 to the left of the dotted line. The rectangle A represents the corresponding amplifier A of Fig. 1. In this case, however, instead of the contacts of relay 17 being connected to a the signal device 24 they are connected to the winding of magnet 62. The film 1 passing through the projector P has itsedge near the. beginning of the filmdarkened in the manand advances brush 60 to terminal 69 whereby relay 84 is energized to light signal 85.

The lighting of the signal 85 informs the attendant that the driving motor for the projector and phonograph has started operation and that the switching network or fader AL is to be put into operation. When the next opaque portion of the fihn is reached stepping magnet 62 receives another impulse of current to advance brush 60 into enga ement with contact 70 whereupon a circuit or relay 66 is completed. Relay 66 upon energization closes the circuit of motor M2 which is connected by means of suitable gearing to a spindle 58 which carries the brushes 59 and 68 of the switch S1. These brushes are thereupon rotated in a clockwise direction to reduce the number of sections of the artificial line AL in circuit with the phonograph reproducer 57 and the amplifier A whose output circuit is connected to the loud speaker. L.

When the brushes 59 and 68 have reached the proper predetermined point so that the loud speaker is operating at a volume suitable to the requirements of the music, which point has been previously predetermined for the guidance of the operator, the key 61 is momentarily depressed to advance brush into contact with terminal 91. The stepping of the switch from terminal releases relay 66 and stops the motor M2 with the brushes59 and 68 in correct position.

With the switch S1 properly adjusted sound is transmitted from the loud speaker. The turn table was previously in operation and the stylus 56 follows the varying amplitude of the sound groove in disc 55 and causes correspondingly modulated currents to be generated by the device 57. These currents are impressed upon the upper terminals of the artificial line or fader AL after passing through so-called padding sections as described in my copending application, Serial No. 180,323, filed April 1, 1927. These. currents are then amplified without distortion by the amplifier A before reaching the loud speaker L.

Returning now to the operation of the switching device S it should be noted that when brush 60 engages terminal 91 a circuit for relay 92 is completed. This relay upon energization operates magnet 93 to cause the shutter 95 to clear the projector. Relay 92 at its inner right armature completes a locking circuit for itself through the left armature of relay 72 to the positive pole of battery.

. Further progress of the film causes another impulse to be sent to magnet 62 which steps the switch arm 60 into engagement with terminal N in which position the switch re? mains until the film nears the completion of.

scribed to advance brush 60 into engagement with terminal 79. As a result relay 72 is operated and motor M is started into operation. When relay 72 operates it opens the locking circuit of relay 92 previously traced and relay 92 deenergizes allowing relay 72 to lock up through its inner right armature and the left armature and back contact of relay 92 to the positive pole of battery. The release of relay 92 causes the shutter 95 to shut off the picture from the screen. The'turn table T and projector P have now been started into operation and when the second film sends an impulse to magnet 62 the switch arm60 is advanced into engagement with terminal 83 whereupon relay 84 is energized to display signal 85 fader is about to be operated. The next impulse from the film advances brush 60 into engagement with' terminal 86 whereupon relay 80 is energized to put into operation motor M Switch S is then operated in a counter-clockwise direction to gradually reduce the number of sections of line AL in circut with reproducer 57 for the purpose of gradually switching the loud speaker L from one reproducer to the other as described in my application, Serial No. 180,323, hereinbefore referred to. The attendant as before observes the progress of switch S and when it reaches the proper setting depresses key 61 to cause the advance of brush 60 into engagement with terminal 87. I A circuit for relay 88 is thereupon completed. Relay 88 at its outer righthand armature energizes magnet 94 to withdraw the shutter from the projector path and allow the picture to be displayed. At its left armature relay 88 opens the locking circuit of relay 71 which deenergizes and opens 5 the driving circuit of motor M bringing the first projector and turn table to rest. Relay 88 then locks through its right winding and inner right armature and the left-hand back contact of relay 71 to the positive pole of battery. A subsequent impulse from the film advances brush 60 into engagement with terminal M When the film passing through projector P nears the end of its run it will cause the advance of switch 60 to control automatic switching operations in an identical manner to that just described. During the operation of the second turn table andprojector the attendant has replaced record 55 by the record next in order and has placed a new film in projector P. He now has no further duties until the first machine is again put into opera- .tion at which time he will receive the warning signal which will enable him to observe the setting of the fader. It is immaterial which projector and turntable is first used, as it is obvious that they are used alternately and the switching operple instead of a single opaque strip for controlling each signal as in Fig. 2 these cues may take the form of a voice record of directions on the edge of the film at the proper points, and the relay 17 of Fig. 1 may be a monitoring loudspeaker so that at the proper times these directions may be reproduced and anyone may perform the required switching operations guided by thesedirectionsh The manner of producing these voice records on the same film as the moving picture forms no part of the present invention and is wellknown in the art. Furthermore, the invention contemplates the use of photographic sound records which are run synchronously with the picture either as a result of being incorporated in the same film or by means of a separate machine run synchronously with the picture pro ector as is known to the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a synchronized sound and motion picture projecting system, a sound reproducer, a plurality of devices for producing sound modulated currents, means comprising an adjustable current attenuating-network for associating said devices with said reproducer, a. motion picture projecting machine, a motion picture film embodying a control record along its length, means comprising an inertialess relay controlled by said control-record on the film when passing through said projecting machine, and means controlled by said relay for effecting the automaticadjustment of said network to switch said reproducer from one to another of said devices.

2. In a synchronized sound and motion icture projecting system, a loudspeaker a rst sound. reproducing phonograph and a turntable therefor, a second reproducing phonograph and a turntable therefor, a motor for driving each turntable, a motion picture projector associated with each of said phonographs, an electrical current attenuating net work adapted to be adjusted to associate the se cond phonograph with said loudspeaker 'when the record on the first phonograph 1s about to be concluded, a motion picture film embodying a control record along its length and means controlled by said control record on the film in the projector associated with said first phonograph effective when the record on the associated phonograph is about to be concluded for automatically starting the motor for the second phonograph said means tor for each turntable, a sound reproducer, a

rotary switchadapted in its movement'to transfer the control of said reproducer from one to the other of said phonographs, two motors for selectively rotating said switch in either direction, a moving picture projector, amotion picture film embodying a control record along its length and means controlled by said control record on the film passing through said projector for selectively and automatically operating any of said motors at predetermined time intervals.

4. In a synchronized sound and motion picture projecting machine, a sound reproducer, a plurality of sound transmitters, a motion picture projecting machine, a motion picture film embodying a control record along its length and a switching device controlled from said control record on said film passing through said projecting machine to attenuate progressively the currents from one transmitter to the selected minimum energy level and then progressively increase the currents Ifronli the other transmitter to any desired eve 5. In a, synchronized sound and motion picture projecting system, a sound reproducer, a plurality of sound transmitters, a motion picture projecting machine, a motion picture film embodying a control record along its length, an adjustable attenuating network. and means controlled by said control record on said film passing through said projecting machine to control said network to select any one of said transmitters to affect said sound reproducer.

-. 6. In a synchronized sound and motion picture projecting machine, a sound reproducer,

.aplurality of sound transmitters, a motion picture projecting machine, a motion picture film embodying a control record along its length and a switching device controlled from said control record on said film passing through said projecting machine to attenuate progressively the currents from one transmitter to a selected minimum energy level, then progressively increase the currents from the other transmitter to any desired level, a signal, and means also controlled from said control record on said film for operating said signal to apprise an attendant that said v switching device is to be operated. I

7 In a synchronized sound and motion picture projecting machine, a sound reproducer, a plurality of sound transmitters, a motion picture projecting machine, a motion picture 'film embodying a control record along its length and a switching device controlled from said control record on said film passingv through said. projecting machine to attenuate progressively the currents from one transmitter to a selected minimum energy level, then progressively increase the currents from the other transmitter to any desired level, a sig- 5 nal, means also controlled from said control record on said film for operating said signal to apprise an attendant that said switching device is to be operated, and means controllable by said attendant to control the extent of 10 movement of said switching device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this 18th day of March, 1927.

J. LOUIS REYNOLDS. 15 

